He Daqing, do you know how I've lived these past years?

"Alright, then you can have this west wing room and the two rooms next to it, but someone from the steel factory will come to collect the rent."

Jia Gui agreed, looked up at the sky, and said to Yan Bugui:

"Come on, before it gets dark, I'll take you to the Ministry of Education. I won't worry about the specific job assignments."

Yan Bugui happily got on the back of the motorcycle.

Although Jia Gui was greedy, he was capable of getting things done. The only problem was that he couldn't take those small yellow croakers and silver dollars back with him.

Alas, those who don't plan ahead will suffer poverty; my Yan family is truly miserable!

Half an hour later, the two rode their motorcycle back to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

Yan Bugui felt a surge of relief. Luckily, Jia Gui was tough, and the other man gave him face; otherwise, he, the instructor of the senior primary school, would have been in serious trouble.

From a distance, the two saw a fat man rubbing his hands anxiously waiting at the courtyard gate.

"Hey Mr. Jia, be careful, slow down! Your motorcycle looks really cool riding it. Can I touch it?"

Jia Gui glanced at Liu Haizhong with disdain and said:

"You good-for-nothing bastard, you've had a good time tonight, tomorrow Master Jia will let you ride him."

Liu Haizhong was also delighted and grabbed Jia Gui, leading him towards the backyard.

"Master Jia, I've been prepared for this all along. Tonight, we'll drink until we drop!"

Jia Gui was pulled into the house, and seeing the two bottles of yellow wine on the table, he rolled up his sleeves and said:

"Haha, Hai Zhong, you're quite something. From now on, you're my brother. If you need anything, just say the name Jia Gui. But you can't bully the people or do evil deeds."

Liu Haizhong directly broke the seal on the rice wine and said:

"Master Jia, I'm just an ordinary citizen, how would I know how to do such a thing? Please sit down and have a drink."

After saying that, he immediately walked to the door and closed it.

Upon seeing the wealthy old woman outside, Yan Bugui no longer cared whether she was familiar or not. He quickly went to Liu Haizhong's door, pushed the door open, and, despite his foot pain, shouted while bracing the closing door with both hands:

"Brother Haizhong, I haven't come in yet."

When Jia Gui turned around, Hai Zhong had no choice but to open the door. Yan Bugui, under his murderous gaze, straightened his collar and cuffs and walked in.

"Wow, Brother Haizhong, tonight's meal is so sumptuous! There's Shaoxing wine, roast chicken and roast duck, peanuts and braised pig's head!"

Liu Haizhong immediately smiled and said:

"How can a meal with Master Jia be shabby? Come, sit down. We're neighbors now. If you ever need anything, just ask me. I'll help you with anything I can."

Yan Bugui's eyes darted around and he said:

"Brother Haizhong, winter is just around the corner. There are several people in my family, and these quilts might not be enough. Could you send me two?"

Just as Liu Haizhong was feeling awkward, Jia Gui slammed his hand on the table and said:

"Alright, Haizhong just bought a house, he doesn't have much money. Come to my house tomorrow and take two beds with you. Haizhong, you should also come and see if there's anything you need to take with you."

The two men hurriedly poured yellow wine to toast Jia Gui.

Meanwhile, the heavily pregnant woman from the sea took a small bowl, scooped up some vegetables, and went to the earthen stove beside her to eat with her two children.

Seeing this, Jia Gui downed a cup of yellow wine and said:

"My young wife is pregnant too. Someone gave me some imported baby formula. You can take some with you tomorrow; it's just a small token of my appreciation as the eldest brother."

Upon hearing about the imported milk powder, Yan Bugui excitedly raised his glass in a toast. Liu Haizhong had never even heard of this imported milk powder, but seeing how excited Old Yan was, he figured it must be something good, so he also raised his glass and downed it in one gulp.

Just then, two people, one big and one small, walked in through the courtyard gate.

"Shazhu, go to Aunt Cuilan's house and bring back some rainwater. I'll go heat up the vegetables."

Just as He Daqing was about to enter the house, he suddenly heard loud laughter coming from the backyard. He stopped and listened for a while.

"Hey, that sounds like my brother Jia's voice."

So, carrying the food container, he followed the sound to Liu Haizhong's door and called out:

"Jia Gui, Brother Jia."

Upon hearing this, Jia Gui, who was drinking inside, put down his glass and said to Liu Haizhong:

"Hai Zhong, go open the door, it should be my younger brother from the Great Qing Dynasty."

Liu Haizhong reluctantly stood up and opened the door. He Daqing peeked in and, sure enough, it was his Brother Jia.

Jia Gui also asked:

"Has the Qing Dynasty eaten yet?"

He Daqing shook his head, opened the food box, and said:

"Not yet. Should I go heat up the food? The food is a bit tough today; it's for our out-of-town guests."

Jia Gui was also pleased when he saw the dishes:

"Then hurry up and heat it up. Bring my nephew over to eat later too."

Upon hearing this, He Daqing hurriedly turned and ran towards the central courtyard.

The wealthy old woman next door peeked through the crack in the door, took a deep breath, closed the door, and muttered a curse:

"They're all heartless bastards! They never bring me anything good to eat. What's wrong with Yi Zhonghai? I can't see him for days on end. And that wretched girl Cuilan only brings me plain noodles. My son, where are you? Your mother is suffering so much!"

As the wealthy old woman spoke, she tore off a chicken leg from the roast chicken on the table and took a big bite.

He Daqing, who was rushing back to the Intermediate Courtyard, called out to Sha Zhu to carry the rainwater to the backyard for dinner, while hurriedly starting a fire and washing vegetables.

A crack was also opened in the window of the Jia family's house on the north side, and through the crack, a pair of large eyes could be seen intently watching He Daqing as he started the fire and cooked.

"Mom, what are you doing? This is extra cabbage I bought from the cafeteria at lunchtime. It's delicious; I heard Uncle Qing cooked it."

Madam Jia slowly closed the window, looked at the emaciated Jia Dongxu, and gritted her teeth, saying:

"Heat this dish up, and I'll go buy a cup of Shaoxing wine. Your body isn't suited for your father's work; we'll have to rely on your Uncle Jia Gui."

As he spoke, he opened the cupboard, pulled out a dozen or so silver dollars from the earthenware jar behind it, and hurriedly rushed out of the courtyard gate.

Jia Dongxu touched his thin arms and legs and sighed deeply. He started a fire and heated the dishes.

After an incense stick had burned a while, Da Qing carried three dishes out of the room and happened to run into Jia Zhangshi, who was returning from buying wine. The two nodded to each other and went their separate ways.

"Silly Zhu, let's go!"

"Your Uncle Jia will need to call for some hot water later."

He Yuzhu nodded, holding the rainwater, and said:

"I understand, Dad. Should we invite Aunt Cuilan to eat with us? She lives alone."

He Daqing shook his head and said:

"It's fine at home, but you can't just bring people along when you go to someone else's house for a meal. Life is tough for everyone these days, so you have to bring some food when you go to someone's house for a meal."

Just as Da Qing arrived at Hai Zhong's house, Jia Zhangshi also brought Jia Dongxu in.

"Hey, what's up with the whole hospital gathering today? Sister-in-law, anything you need?"

Upon seeing Jia Zhangshi and the yellow wine in her arms, Jia Gui sneered, then beckoned to Dongxu, picked up a piece of chicken, and put it in his mouth.

Madam Jia chuckled and said:

"Dongxu's uncle, this is to thank you for helping Dongxu buy his private house and finding him work. That's why I bought some rice wine."

Jia Gui also scoffed and said:

"Alright, everyone, sit down and eat."

Jia Dongxu and He Yuzhu, who was carrying rainwater, went to Liu Guangqi and the others to wait for He Daqing to bring over some vegetables to eat.

Jia Zhangshi chuckled and plopped down next to Jia Gui. Liu Haizhong, who had opened the door, couldn't sit down either. After all, Jia Zhangshi was Jia Gui's sister-in-law, and judging from her appearance, she must have something on her mind. He couldn't be the bad guy, or he'd be in trouble with both sides.

Yan Bugui didn't even look up, his chopsticks constantly picking up pieces of braised pork and stir-fried shredded vegetables that He Daqing had brought.

……